rushes from the river disappointment (Volume 53)

by stephanie roberts

"those of us who've seen miracles know how to ask. / if you've asked, do you love me, i almost certainly / don't love you." This meditative, musically attentive collection explores the confounding nature of intimate relationships. stephanie roberts's poetic expression is often irreverent, unapologetic, and infused with humour that can take surprisingly grave turns. rushes from the river disappointment traverses city, country, and fantasy using nature as artery through the emotional landscape. As they wrestle to come to terms with the effects of uncertainty and grief on hope and belief, these diverse field notes are interspersed with the fabulous: a polar bear and owl engage in flirtation, a time traveller appears on a lake, an erotic scene takes place on a train, and we confront "people capable of eating popcorn at the movie of your agony." roberts's language is dense with images and sometimes acrobatic. In poems that affirm love and desire as treasures fought for more than just felt, rushes from the river disappointment turns an unblinking gaze on the failures of courage that distance us from love.

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2020

About the author

stephanie roberts is the Québec-based author of the poetry collection rushes from the river disappoinment (McGill-Queen's University Press 2020) an A.M. Klein Poetry Book Prize finalist. A Canada Council for the Arts grant recipient and prize-winning poet, her work has been featured in numerous periodicals and anthologies in North America and Europe. She was born in Central America and grew up in Brooklyn, NY.

Reviews

[Annick MacAskill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving and poignant book of poetry, in which roberts exhibits tremendous range in both form and tone. Easily one of the finest poetry titles out this spring.

[Marie-Audrey Perron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doux, amer, fracassant. Lu d’un bout à l’autre sans arrêter.